Part 3: 1953 Travel Set

Description

Here we go, top and blazer of the three piece suit, which makes up the staple of the travel set, are finished! I ran into trouble here and there – this kind of silk (I LOVE IT) is not so easy to sew with, it ravels easily and doesn’t like machine stitching… (the edges sort of “expand” under the needle and gape out if you’re not careful – I opted for quite a bit of hand stitching). Blazer is fully lined of course and a treat to wear. Though it is linen-like in its look, it is much softer and doesn’t crease (is that the right word?) as fast. I actually wore it to the theater yesterday and barely had to iron it for the photos today! I tried to make the same poses as in the magazine and use the same styling and I think I succeeded more than last time :-)I love how you can put a brooch on the band of the skirt and make it look like a dress with a belt… I like how the pleats from top and skirt match up… I’d say I am generally happy with the outcome.
It is amazing how you can use this for an elegant evening as well as a sporty day suit. I went for the vintage look in the photos, but blazer as well as top can be worn with jeans and look modern. Oh, and by the way, I went to the theater by bike! I love this skirt (the description of the skirt is in part 1 of the travel set series…)! The blazer has the most beautiful pattern – see how the pockets, the front bodice and the arms are all in one part? Those were funky pattern shapes! It also asked for tricky gussets, but it worked out better than I feared…

Your suit is absolutely beautiful! I love the other items of the set you’ve posted as well (part 1 and 2) and am looking forward to seeing the remaining ones. I really your attention to detail, like the trim around the neckline, the brooch and the buttons. You look absolutely stunning. You say the pattern from Neue Moden only came in one size. I knew they didn’t have multisize patterns like in modern burdas, but are all the patterns in the magazine in the same size or is each garment a different one? I’ve been thinking of buying some 50s pattern magazines like Neue Moden, Burda, etc and was wonderng what the sizing would be like.

1 Reply

Thanks a lot! Yes, the patterns each come in one size only, but different sizes for different garments (of course the dress you want NEVER happens to be in your size…). The sizes are either 0-IV, or by bust measurements… In the 60’s some magazines have each pattern in two sizes, but still not the multi size patterns we know today. But grading is not so bad, really, you’ll get the hang of it!

Wow, this is sooooo pretty! amazing! I wonder if it is comfy; I mean, would you travel far distances with it.? I guess in the 50ies it was much more important to look good rather than to feel easy.
What´s the exact specification of the silk?

1 Reply

Thank you and yes, I would absolutely travel far distances! The original skirt would have the pleat in the back sewn together all the way down to past the knee, which would make it difficult to board trains and cablecars, not to even mention riding a bike… but since I left it open, it is very comfy! This material is AMAZING. It is 100% silk, but I can’t remember the specification…. I think it’s “silk noil” or “silk suiting”…

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The pattern is from a “Vorbachs Neue Moden” from May 1953, that I bought through Ebay Austria… Not easy to work with… the patterns only come in one size (two sizes too big for me) and they are difficult to copy down from the pattern plan… You see a picture from the whole page when you go to Part 1 of my series…

Thanks. It is so warm that there is no selection of jacket fabrics in stores. Everything is light and summery. So I ended up buying an inexpensive heavy cotton twill in a dark bluish with a bit of grey-ish color. The lining is you know, shiny lightweight lining fabric – quite nice, white with pin stripes in blue and red. I think the buttons will need to “make” the jacket… And the pattern as well, because it is quite an interesting pattern (from Burda Jan 2009). We’ll see :-)

I love the jacket and the fabric. It looks amazing and so meticulously done. I am impressed by how you are so devoted to this project!! Great job and great photos :-) I love the princess seam on the jacket, and the pockets, and its collar. I am also making a jacket now (first time!) – if you have any fabric recommendations I would be happy to hear them!

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Thank you so much! I find choosing fabrics daunting enough for myself, so I don’t have the confidence to give you much advice… BUT: The choice of lining is more important than you think, and also any other interfacings you might use… fusible, non-fusible… you can turn almost any fabric into the right weight and “flow” by your choice of interfacings/lining… Good luck!!!

09/2017

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